Shangai hands

Shangai hands (1) - Zia Slams

Traditionally, the Bermuda Bowl opens with a re-enactment of the American Civil War, i.e. the match between USA 1 and USA 2. This year was no exception and USA 1 triumphed by 54 to 15, partly thanks to the slams bid by Zia and Rosenberg. In fact, they bid three consecutive slams in the last four boards. If the third of them was a fairly obvious grand, a flat board (although missed at some other tables), the Zia team gained 25 imps from the two other slams, missed by Meckwell. At board 13, I put the blame to Hamman, who opened a seven-card suit with 2S, giving to Zia-Rosenberg a crucial extra level to bid the slam. True, Hamman was vul. but this is what I call sending a boy to do a man's job. At the other table, Garner opened a full-blooded 3S, double, 4S by Weinstein, 5D end. And this was board 14:

Brd 14   A7
South    J76
None     A96
         A7632
         MAHMOOD
KQJ86543               	9
K        		T94
Q82              	JT7543
9            		Q84
LALL             	Hamman
         T2
         AQ8532
         K
         KJT5
         Rosenberg

 W   N   E   S
================
                   1H
 4S  X   P   4NT
 P   5S  P   6C
 P   P   P       
--------

Efficient bidding followed by efficient play with the trump finesse against the preempter's partner. No, they didn't find the offside king of hearts! At the other table, Rodwell passed the double and they also lost one trick in defence, so 4S got down 2 for 300 and 12 more imps to the USA 1 team.

Nikos Sarantakos

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